Vacuum tube socket and terminal therefor



June 19, 1934. A, w KMBELL 1,963,792

VACUUM TUBE SOCKET AND TERMINAL THEREFOR Filed July 5, 1929 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM TUBE SOCKET AND TERMINAL THEREFOR poration of Illinois Application July 5, 1929, Serial No. 375,922

1 Claim.

My invention is for improvements in socket devices particularly though not exclusively for use as radio tube sockets.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of my application: Figure l is a plan view 01' a preferred form of socket device; Fig. 2 is an underside view of the socket device; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 on m Figure 1; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a terminal member for the socket showing the rivet-like attaching means.

While I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will hereinafter describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby because my invention will be best defined in the claim forming a part of my application.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a single plate 1 of insulating material having a number of apertures 2 arranged in a circle about the center of the plate to receive the prongs or terminals of a vacuum tube (Figure l) with a terminal member 3 for each aperture secured to the underside of the plate 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The terminal members may be of any suitable form, such as shown in my co-pending applications, Serial Numbers 375,923 and 375,924 filed 3o herewith. my invention as to the terminals being in the means for attachment. The particular terminal 3 shown is the same as that illustrated and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 375,924 flied herewith and each has a yieldable sleeve 4, a base 5 and a wiring terminal 6.

Means in the form of attaching portions 7 are pressed from the'material oi the base 5 at advantageous points for holding the terminal securely in position when attached to the plate 1.

40 In the embodiment oi the terminal member selected for illustration I have provided two attaching portions 7. One is located at one edge 01' the base and the other is located in the base extension between the sleeve 4 and the wiring terminal a at the end of the same and both extend in the opposite direction from the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the terminal members are attached to the plate 1 the attaching portions 7 pass through apertures previously formed in the plate and have their ends deformed against the upper side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The terminals are so arranged that each has an attaching portion 7 located between the center oi the plate and an aperture 2 in the plate, while the other attaching portion 7 is located outside of the circle of the apertures 2. Thus the thin flat insulating plate is formed with three substantially concentric series of apertures, with the'apertures of each series equal in number to the others, and with the apertures oi the adjacent series forming triads, the intermediate aperture of which is the prong-receiving aperture, while the end apertures of the triads receive the lugs or attaching portions 7.

If a washer 8 of insulating material is attached to the upper face of the plate 1, as illustrated, to provide a guide for aiding in registering the contacts of a tube with the apertures 2 it will cover the attaching portions 7 located inside the circle of apertures, concealing the same and preventing loosening oi the same or accidental short circuiting of a tube. As will be clear from the drawing, the attaching portions 7 located inside the circle cle of apertures are preferably disposed as shown, to lie closely adjacent the wiring terminal end of the base extension to support it against bending, and with the spacing therebetween exceeding the distance between the vacuum tube prongs, these ends being attained with a minimum of material by striking the outer tongue 7 upwardly and outwardly with reference to the aperture in the terminal base, as best shown in Fig. 4.

In the type of socket illustrated it is desirable to provide terminal members which have means 85 for making a tight gripping contact with the prongs oi a tube. Therefore it is desirable, especially where only one plate is used, to hold the base 5 securely against the underside of the plate to maintain the sleeves 4 in proper alignment with the apertures 2. By securing the terminals in the manner described and illustrated the terminals 3 are prevented from becoming distorted as well as from being turned.

The device which I have illustrated and described is reduced to a minimum number or parts which may be manufactured with ease and at a relatively low cost and can be easily and quickly assembled.

I claim:

A radio tube socket of the type embodying a single thin flat plate of insulating material having a series of tube-prong-receiving apertures arranged in a circle about the center of the plate and having prong-engaging terminals carried by the plate in alignment with its apertures, said tube socket having the following improved construction: said plate having in addition to said series of prong-receiving apertures, two series of lug-receiving apertures, each equal in number to the series of prong-receiving apertures, and one series located substantially concentrically inwardly oi said prong-receiving apertures, and the other substantially concentrically outwardly thereof, thus forming similar triads oi! apertures with a prong receiving aperture as the intermediate member of each triad; said terminals each consisting of a base having a prong-aperture therethrough and having contact fingers integral with its base forming a contact sleeve extending downwardly from the plane oi its base and in alignment with the prong-aperture in its base, said terminals each further comprising an extension, in the plane with its base, terminating in a wiring connection, and said terminals each being formed with two integral attaching-lugs extending upwardly from the plane of its base and passing into the end apertures or the triads, respectively, locating the prong-apertures in the terminal bases in alignment under the prong-receiving apertures 01' the thin flat plate, one of said attaching lugs being stuck out of said base-extension, and said attaching lugs extending through said thin flat plate and having their extending ends deformed to secure the terminal members firmly in aligned position against the underside of said plate, and said socket further embodying a guide-disc secured concentrically within the circle of tube prong receiving apertures and covering the deformed ends of the attaching-lugs extending through the inner series 0! lug-receiving apertures. thus isolating the same from observation and from engagement by the prongs of a vacuum tube.

ARTHUR- W. KIMBELL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,963, 792.

June 19, 1934.

ARTHUR W. KIMBELL.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 1, line 74, for

"inside" read outside; page 2, line 79, the claim, for "nine read struck;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform lo the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of August, A. D. 1934.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer to the series of prong-receiving apertures, and one series located substantially concentrically inwardly oi said prong-receiving apertures, and the other substantially concentrically outwardly thereof, thus forming similar triads oi! apertures with a prong receiving aperture as the intermediate member of each triad; said terminals each consisting of a base having a prong-aperture therethrough and having contact fingers integral with its base forming a contact sleeve extending downwardly from the plane oi its base and in alignment with the prong-aperture in its base, said terminals each further comprising an extension, in the plane with its base, terminating in a wiring connection, and said terminals each being formed with two integral attaching-lugs extending upwardly from the plane of its base and passing into the end apertures or the triads, respectively, locating the prong-apertures in the terminal bases in alignment under the prong-receiving apertures 01' the thin flat plate, one of said attaching lugs being stuck out of said base-extension, and said attaching lugs extending through said thin flat plate and having their extending ends deformed to secure the terminal members firmly in aligned position against the underside of said plate, and said socket further embodying a guide-disc secured concentrically within the circle of tube prong receiving apertures and covering the deformed ends of the attaching-lugs extending through the inner series 0! lug-receiving apertures. thus isolating the same from observation and from engagement by the prongs of a vacuum tube.

ARTHUR- W. KIMBELL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,963, 792.

June 19, 1934.

ARTHUR W. KIMBELL.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 1, line 74, for

"inside" read outside; page 2, line 79, the claim, for "nine read struck;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform lo the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of August, A. D. 1934.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer 

